Deland's 1986 Budget To Go To Preliminary Vote

September 4, 1985|By David Karpook of The Sentinel Staff

DELAND — City commissioners are expected to give tentative approval tonight to a $9.45 million budget that calls for a 6 percent increase in sewage service costs, an 11 percent increase in garbage collection rates for businesses and a 12.5 percent increase in rent for hangar space in the municipal airport.

Tax rates would drop slightly under the proposal -- from this year's $5.36 per $1,000 of property value, to $5.27 per $1,000 -- but that does not necessarily mean people would see a smaller tax bill because many assessments have been increased. The city expects to take in $1.24 million from property taxes next year, compared with $1.08 million this year.

The rollback rate -- the property tax rate under which DeLand could generate the same amount of tax revenue as last year -- is $5 per $1,000.

The new budget year begins Oct. 1.

A public hearing will precede tonight's budget action. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in city hall.

Commissioners are meeting tonight instead of their usual Monday meeting date because of the Labor Day holiday. If they give tentative approval today, the budget will come up for final adoption Sept. 16.

Under the city's proposal, a person who owns a $75,000 house and is eligible for the $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $263.50 in city taxes next year, compared with $268 this year, if the assessment has not changed.

In addition to city taxes, DeLand residents pay property taxes to the county, the school board and several smaller agencies, such as the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Most of the proposed 1985-86 budget, $5.7 million is taken up by the general fund, which finances most governmental operations.

That portion of the budget shows a slight decrease from last year's $5.8 million, but officials say the decrease exists only on paper. It is a result of removing the cost of garbage collection from the general fund and setting it up as a separate account.